Description

Healthcare and Culture in Guatemala

The Global Education Office, the Department of Biology and the School of World Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University are pleased to present a four-week opportunity for participants interested in international healthcare, Spanish language and Guatemalan culture. Students will be enrolled in a 3-credit Spanish language course as well as a secondary course in healthcare and Mayan culture. This healthcare program offers students a service-learning opportunity and is designed for pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-nursing students and health providers.

Course and credit options: 6 VCU credits

All students will enroll in a 3-credit Spanish course for 4 hours per day each week and a service-learning healthcare course. The latter will take place on weekday afternoons. All students will participate in each weekend excursion and weeknight presentation incorporating aspects from both Guatemalan healthcare and Mayan culture. All students will be required to attend a series of mandatory meetings on-campus at VCU prior to the trip as part of the non-Spanish course requirements.

Students may choose one of the following Spanish courses:
* SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish
* SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish Reading
* SPAN 205 Intermediate Spanish Conversation
* SPAN 305 Advanced Spanish Conversation

Additionally, students will enroll in a healthcare course:
* HUMS 291/391 or INTL 391

Course description

Language instruction will take place at the Fundacion Proyecto Lingüistico Francisco Marroquin Monday through Friday each week. Students will also be offered daily Spanish lessons with medically-oriented themes.

Participants will volunteer in local clinics each afternoon and will receive presentations from practitioners of alternative Mayan medicine such as ethnobotany, midwives, bonesetters and shamans.

Students will participate in weekly seminars with the program director supplemented by presentations from Dr. McKenna Brown and take-home readings. They will attend a seminar and reading from published Mayan author Don Gaspar Pedro Gonzalez and be given presentations from practitioners of alternative Mayan medicines. Further, they will participate in weekend excursions to cultural sites such as Atitlan, Iximche, Maximon, Copan, San Antonio Aguas Calientes and San Juan Comalapa.

The program is directed by Spanish language teacher Sam Peterson of Henrico County Public Schools. Mr. Peterson, an alumnus of VCU, participated in multiple Spanish immersion study abroad programs during his tenure at VCU, including the Antigua program. This is his second year as a program director in Guatemala.

Highlights

While in Guatemala:
In addition to language instruction, students will participate in weekly field trips to learn about local history, culture, tradition and language. Planned field trips include: touring the Antiguan ruins, visiting museums, attending local social events, traveling to coffee plantations, traveling to the ruins of Copán, Honduras, viewing Mayan ceremonies, visiting Mayan weavers in Aguas Calientes, hiking up Volcano Pacaya and spending a weekend at Lake Atitlán where students will visit the colorful market of Chichicastenango. Students will also receive supplemental classroom presentations and guest lectures from local practitioners of Mayan medicine, writers and Dr. McKenna Brown, an expert on Mayan culture.

Housing:
Participants will be housed with a host family while in Guatemala.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• Health Administration
• Health Sciences
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Approx. USD1,800 + airfare + VCU tuition

Program Fees Include:

The program fee is approximately USD1,700 - USD1,900 and includes the following:
* Accommodations
* Most meals
* Study visits and tours
* Excursions
* On-site Program Director support
* Application fee and deposit
* Pre-departure orientation
* VCU administrative fees
* International Student Identification Card

The following are not included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
* Airfare
* VCU tuition and fees
* Some meals
* Passport application fee
* Personal expenses during the program (estimated at USD200- USD300)
* Anything not specifically mentioned above

Please budget for these additional expenses.

Airfare is not included. Participants are responsible for making their own round-trip travel arrangements from the US to their destination city. Program directors will meet with accepted students to go over specific travel logistics and may help students in identifying low-cost travel options. For best fares, students are encouraged to purchase their tickets prior to April 15.

Experience Required

yes

For Spanish language courses, students will need to have all pre-requisite coursework completed prior to the program start date; however, this program is open to all students regardless of major with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students will be selected after a personal interview with the program director. An academic letter of reference is not required.

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Application Process Involves

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

2-4 weeks

Year Founded

1838